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24th session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP)
The WGIP met in Geneva for four days from July 30 – August 4, 2006. Before that an indigenous caucus meeting was convened in the Church Centre and indigenous caucus meetings were held after each day's session. During the indigenous caucus meetings, the discussion mainly dealt with two issues: the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the Human Rights Council and the prospects of having it adopted by the General Assembly later this year; and the future of the WGIP.
The theme for this year's meeting was "Utilization of indigenous peoples' lands by non-indigenous authorities, groups or individuals for military purposes". The statements on the theme presented by indigenous representatives can be found at doCip's website by clicking here.
Under standard-setting activities a paper co-authored by a Working Group member and the Saami Council titled "Review of the draft principles and guidelines on the heritage of indigenous peoples" was presented. Click here to read the paper.
Agenda item 8 was devoted to 'The future of the Working Group' and the members of the WGIP had prepared a paper presenting its own vision and recommendations for future expert advice to the Human Rights Council and a list, indicating the status of on-going studies and an overall review of activities. Click here to read the paper. The issue of the future of the WGIP was also discussed in the indigenous caucus meetings and a statement was presented under agenda item 8 'The future of the Working Group'. In their statement, the indigenous caucus recommended that:
"The newly established Human Rights Council can best fulfil its mandate for the effective protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples by considering how each of its mandated areas of work could be applied to the situation of Indigenous Peoples. […] the Human Rights Council should draw on the advice and assistance of human rights experts, including the growing number of experts among indigenous peoples."
Read the whole statement by clicking here.
Side-event on indigenous peoples and militarization
The Human Rights Fund for Indigenous Peoples arranged a side-event titled "Indigenous Peoples and Militarization" where five indigenous representatives made presentations on the issue in different parts of the world. The side-event was well attended and an interesting discussion followed the presentations.
Militarization of indigenous peoples' territories happens all over the world, in many forms and for many reasons. Although in most cases the intruding if not occupying forces are those of the State, there are several cases in which other, non-state armed groups enter and establish themselves on indigenous territories.
The most direct and for the indigenous peoples most severe form of militarization of indigenous territories happens when it is the State’s response to indigenous peoples assertion of their right to self-determination, like in the case of Chiapas in Mexico, the Nagas on the Indo-Burmese border, the Chin, Karen, Shan, Kachin, Kayah, Mon and Arakenese in Burma, or the Papuas of West Papua occupied by Indonesia.
Many indigenous peoples have been forcefully drawn into armed conflicts between others, usually State security forces and armed opposition groups, like in Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Philippines or Nepal. Here, armed opposition groups are operating in indigenous territories which provokes the deployment of State security forces to these areas as well. The indigenous communities find themselves caught in-between, often being harassed and maltreated by both sides.
Then there are the many cases of occupation of indigenous lands and territories by the army for training purposes or for military bases. Since indigenous territories are often remote – from the point of view of the dominant population – they are preferred for such purposes. In some cases even foreign governments are offered training grounds for their armed forces, like the British in Kenya and various European governments' air forces on Innu territory in Labrador, Canada. Many foreign armies have strategic military bases in indigenous territories in other countries, like the US in the Ryuku islands of Japan.
The current US-lead war against terror has serious consequences in many parts of the indigenous world. For example, virtually the whole Sahara desert is currently being militarized as the governments of Mali, Niger, Mauretania and Algeria, with US support, are deploying troops in a drive against Al Quaida camps. This has serious consequences for the indigenous Tuareg.
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